Saudi Arabia: Would the Grand Mosque (Haram) Have Been Separated?


divided mosque

demotix.com

 

Just when you think you heard it all, a Saudi national, identified only as Abu Khaled, called in to a program hosted by Sheik Al-Mutlaq and hosted on the Al-Majd satellite channel.  Abu Khaled had a problem.  In his view the foreign (expatriate) Muslims who prayed in the mosques in Saudi Arabia were a disturbance.  They had dirty clothes and smelled bad.  Abu Khaled’s suggestion, more in the line of a request, was for separate mosques for the non-Saudi Muslims.  Can you imagine that?  It’s like a reminder of when the United States had segregation between those with white skin or black skin color.

Thankfully, Sheik Al-Mutlaq not only disagreed strongly with Abu Khaled’s suggestion, but put a stop to such nonsense.  Sheikh Al-Mutlaq told the questioner that his description of foreign workers reminded him of the condition of Saudi citizens at a time when the country did not know soap or shampoo. He told him that the dirty foreign workers might be closer to God than him. American Bedu agrees with Sheik Al-Mutlaq.

Just think, if another Sheik had not been so reasonable, future pilgrims might have been performing umrah or hajj in a divided Haram.

Saudi Arabia’s food supply


Saudi Arabia has a very hot climate and very little arable land. Yet it is home to 16 million citizens and about 9 million ex-pat workers. Where do they get their food?

Saudi Arabia grows some of it’s own food, and it has farms for poultry and cows, but most of the food is imported. Saudi Arabia spends about 6 billion a year on imported food. And food for the poultry, sheep and cows is also imported.

saudi milkproduction

Keeping cows in the desert is a very expensive project.
The Afu-Safi diary farm in Saudi Arabia originated in the 1970’s. It was modelled on a dairy farm in California, but is twice the size holding 38,000 cows. Each cow requires 30 gallons of water per day for drinking and cooling. Oil drilling technology was used to reach aquifers beneath the desert.

There is also a growing ”outsourcing” of the food supply. Saudi Arabia’s Hail Agricultural Development Company, Hadco, stopped producing wheat in 2008 and is purchasing land abroad. Hadco has already purchased 9,239 hectares of land in Sudan, and is considering purchasing another 32,755 hectares in Sudan within the next five years to grow wheat, corn and other crops to be used for feeding livestock. In January 2009 Saudi Arabia received the first batch of rice produced abroad.

saudi-wheat-production

Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, and Asian states, have purchased a total of over 20,230,000 hectares of land suitable for arable crops in Africa in the past years, about ten per cent of the farmed land in Africa. This would secure food supply and stable prices for the wealthy importing countries. The likely outcomes for exporting countries like Sudan, which are unable to feed their own people, appear less favourable

saudi sheep

A Naijdi sheep costs twice as much as an imported sheep.

Saudi Arabia has indigenous sheep, but at least 75% of the sheep consumed are imported.
Saudi Arabia imports close to 18 million sheep and goats per year. More than a million sheep are imported for Hajj and eid alone.
To feed all these sheep Saudi Arabia also imports enormous amounts of Barley, mostly from Russia and the Ukraine.
One reason why barley imports in Saudi Arabia are so high are subsidies. The Saudi Government encourages a sheep fattening industry. Economically it makes more sense to import lamb and feed it on subsidized barley than importing grown up sheep.
This industry is mostly located in Jeddah and other coastal cities, not in traditional livestock rearing areas.
Beside this industry barley subsidies are also important to feed the camel and sheep of Bedouin in rural areas and ensure tribal loyalty there.

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Animal activists complain about the horrible treatment of animals sent on ships to the middle east, a yearly loss of 2 million animals is considered a sustainable risk by the companies who deal in them. Many animal lovers also complain about the way these animals are slaughtered, which is considered animal abuse.

With an ever increasing population and no chance to ever be able to grow enough food to be selfsufficient Saudi Arabia is in a very dangerous position. One could imagine when the oil dries up, and no other industry of note there would be nothing which could keep the Saudi population alive. They would have to either mass emigrate, or die of starvation.

AA

read:

Saudi Gazette

Oil for food

Arabian gazette

Saudi Arabia/World: Hajj Mubarak


lifeofmuslim.com

 

American Bedu takes joy in wishing all Muslims around the world “Hajj Mubarak.”

Saudi Arabia received 1.75 million foreign Muslims from 189 countries who performed this year’s Hajj.  The number of Saudi citizens or Muslim expatriates who performed Hajj this year are not yet known.

More than 80,000 pilgrims were denied entry to Makkah due to holding fake permits.  Hajj is carefully regulated by the Saudi government for security and safety purposes.

According to the Interior Minister, the number of foreign pilgrims who performed Hajj dropped by 4 per cent as compared to last year.

In 2011, according to the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information, the total number of people who performed Hajj was 2,927,717 (2.93 million), of which 1,828,195 pilgrims (1.828 million) had arrived from outside the Kingdom.

 

Not fewer than 1,099,522 pilgrims for the 2011 Hajj had come from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, having a population of around 27 million, including nine million expatriates.

 

Saudi Arabia was host to 57,255 Hajj pilgrims in 1921, 56,319 in 1922, 1,080,465 (1.080 million) in 1996, 1,168,591 (1.169 million) in 1997, 1,132,344 (1.132 million) in 1998, 1,363,992 (1.364 million) in 2001, 1,534,759 (1.535 million) in 2005, 1,654,407 (1.654 million) in 2006, 1,707,814 (1.708 million) in 2007, 1,729,841 (1.730 million) in 2008, 1,613,000 (1.613 million) in 2009, 1,799,601 (around 1.8 million) in 2010 and 1,828,195 (1.828 million) last year in 2011.

Saudi Arabia: Hajj – Let’s Keep it Safe and Healthy


 

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, is considered as one of the most important duties of a Muslim.  Hajj 2012 is closely approaching and will take place between 24 – 29 October.  During this period millions of Muslims from around the world and within Saudi Arabia will flock to Makkah (and Medinah) to perform their pilgrimage.

The city of Makkah has to be prepared to house, transport, feed, provide water and have the millions of pilgrims positioned at the appropriate place of their Hajj journey at the right time.  It is a masterful feat of logistics.

In addition, due to the number of pilgrims coming to the Kingdom from all over the world, there is also a concern of disease or illness.  Each pilgrim must undergo a medical examination and have certain inoculations prior to arrival in the Kingdom for Hajj.  As a preventive measure against all epidemic diseases for Hajj 2012, the Ministry of Health has deployed officials at all 14 ports of entry to monitor the health condition of pilgrims.

King Abdullah specifically directed the Ministry of Health to oversee Hajj health and medical emergency operations.  The special Ministry team is comprised of 105 doctors and 242 paramedics who will be dispersed in various locations for the provision of medical services to pilgrims. In addition, the ministry recruited more than 20,000 people from various medical, technical and administrative categories for Hajj. There are 441 medics in rare medical disciplines including intensive care, breathing catheter and treatment as well as nursing intensive care and emergencies.

Saudi Arabia: The Scramble for Domestic Help


Ramadan 2012 will begin on or about 19 July 2012.  Many families are already beginning their Ramadan preparations.  Among many Muslim women in the Kingdom, a first priority may be engaging additional domestic help.

During Ramadan, Muslims around the world will fast without food or water from sunrise to sunset for a full month.  As a result, the two meals which take place respectively prior to the fast of the day and breaking the fast of the day are important.  

Prior to starting the fast and before the sun rises, Muslims will have “suhoor.”    This is the meal which must sustain them throughout the day while they fast.  “Iftar” is the meal during which the fast of the day is broken.  These meals are special occasions and it is not uncommon for large families and friends to gather and have these meals together.  Ramadan is also after all, a time of celebration of all Muslims.

During the last two weeks of Ramadan schools, businesses, banks, government offices and other organizations all close down until Ramadan and its subsequent celebration, Eid al Fitr, are over.  Families will generally gather at the home of the patriarch (or matriarch if the father is deceased) to spend the remaining two weeks of Ramadan and Eid al Fitr.  It is not uncommon to have 50 or more men, women and children at each suhoor and iftar.  My late husband was one of ten siblings who in turn were all married with children, plus some of the children were already married with children.  We had well over 100 family members together during Ramadan!

     Therefore, it is not surprising that Saudi women and other Muslim women in the Kingdom engage additional domestic help during Ramadan.  Family members who have housemaids will bring their own housemaid to wherever the family gathers to help out. Usually one or more housemaids are hired for a six to eight week period to accommodate the extra preparations for food and taking care of the home.

This is the time of year when an “independent” housemaid can double if not triple her monthly salary because there are usually not enough available housemaids for the demand.

Presently the going monthly rate for domestic help in the Kingdom is between SR 1300 – 1800   (US$345.92 -  478.97).  At Ramadan it is not unusual for a housemaid to receive SR 3000 – 3500  (US$798.29 – 931.33) per month.  The rates will vary depending on the nationality of the housemaid, her experience and whether she has a valid iqama.

Yes, many runaway housemaids or umrah visa overstayers (female) will seek positions as a housemaid.  This is not legal but continues to happen.  Of course anyone found harboring or supporting an illegal will face charges.  Yet Ramadan is a popular time for these women to find additional employment opportunities.

Saudi Arabia: Behind the Scenes of the Hajj


This may be putting the horse before the cart since we must first have Ramadan before Hajj, but I am writing this post in specific response to a query received.

“My question is about Hajj, my boyfriend mentioned, and I’ve heard a couple of his friends mention, his father and how he works for a month or so every year during hajj (they told me the name for it, i think it starts with M). Because of his family name, his father gets paid by the government every year to work during hajj and then when his father dies he and his brother will be paid by the government to do the work, or something like this. They tried to explain it to me but I didn’t really understand the link between family names, the government, how much they get paid and what their role during hajj actually is.”

I asked one of my Saudi friend’s who grew up in Makkah about this question and he gave a detailed response.

 

What he is referring to is about Mootwaf which is a business for taking care of the pilgrimage. In the past this was a free trade and anyone could engage in it as a business.  About 70 years ago it was regulated by the government issuing a license to the businesses. Fifty years ago or so the government regulated the trade even further to stop the amount of demand for these licenses by stopping issuing new ones all together.  So licenses remained only in families and passed to the children. Now 30 years ago the government came up with the ingenuous idea of having even more regulations by having full control of how services are provided to pilgrimage, so the pooled groups of the licensees into government controlled companies and the licensees started receiving salaries for the work. Hence Hajj services has become a socialized government run service instead of the thriving competitive business it used to be. My grand father from my mother side was a mutwaf who built a huge business by providing great service to pilgrims. Now the business is run by the government through these companies and my cousins are paid salary for their work instead of competing for it.

 

This website also provides additional information about the services of the mootwaf for those who wish to learn more.

Saudi Arabia: Hajj 1432/2011


Thousands if not millions of pilgrims had their dream come true with the completion of Hajj.  For many Muslims, Hajj may be one of the most difficult pillars of Islam to fulfill.  It not only involves a journey which can be expensive but also in order to manage the Hajj within Saudi Arabia, each country will receive a set number of visas.  Therefore for the pilgrims who are in Makkah on Eid al Adha are overfilled with joy and gratitude.

It is easy to recognize the male “Hajji” for he will have his head shaved which is part of the tradition of Hajj.  It goes without saying that barbers in Makkah make their best profits during Hajj.

During Eid al Adha one will see abundant generosity throughout the Kingdom.  I remember my late husband and I taking a niece and nephew out to a children’s park.  As we were getting them settled in the car a Saudi couple saw us with young children.  The couple stopped their car and gave bags containing candies and toys to my husband for the children in honor of Eid al Adha.

There should not be anyone who goes without a full meal during Eid al Adha.  In addition to Saudis giving meat to family, friends and the poor, all the mosques open their doors to all who wish to have a meal.  Many mosques will have a large tent beside the mosque where the ground has been covered with carpets and one can sit and enjoy the meal.  If driving by one of the mosques the aroma of food reaches out and tantalizes the appetite.

It was typical for my husband’s extended family to get together and enjoy Eid al Adha.  Usually the “gathering of the clan” would take place at my mother-in-law’s home.  But even if it were at another family members home, one could be assured that my mother-in-law would oversee the meal and do most of the cooking.  It did not matter how many of the large extended family were present, my mother-in-law could cook for an army!

 

 

Saudi Arabia: Hajj Mubarak!


 

American Bedu wishes all Muslim readers a blessed Hajj Mubarak!

Saudi Arabia: Anticipation of Hajj


Pilgrims are already arriving to Makkah in anticipation of performing hajj.  Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a desire of all Muslims to perform at least once in their lifetime.

The pilgrims are full of anticipation for Hajj which will take place between 4 – 9 November.  Many Saudis are also full of anticipation for Hajj as it is one of the most lucrative and profitable periods.

While the performance of Hajj has remained the same, Makkah itself has undergone a significant face change.  There is the addition now of the Makkah clock tower which looms above the Haram and can be seen from all directions.  New sky rise hotels and apartment buildings are also dominating the landscape surrounding the Haram.  It’s not like the old days when the landscape was simple with the Haram the focus and landmark all eyes sought for.

Hajj has become much more commercialized too.  Many of the street vendors and small shops have disappeared.  Now a pilgrim can walk across the street from the Haram into the luxurious mall adjacent to the Hilton hotel.  There are other modern shopping malls which have cropped up in and around Makkah.  During Hajj the malls cater to pilgrims.

It is expected that there could be as many as 3 million pilgrims this year.  That also means there will be an increased need for taxi drivers, bus drivers, medical staff and other workers.

Interestingly, in spite of many young Saudi graduates unable to find jobs, the Kingdom is hiring 30,000 Egyptians to come and work during Hajj.

Saudi Arabia: Tabletop Pictorial Books


I’m a big fan of table top picture books and especially picture books whose photos encapsulate the essence and spirit of a place.  One such example is the book “Saudi Arabia” published by Desert Publisher.   The photos in the book are magnificent and accompanied by explanations which further enhance the knowledge of the subject photo and snapshot into the customs, culture and tradition of Saudi Arabia.

Desert Publisher has a series of photographic books about Saudi Arabia but the book “Saudi Arabia” itself is my recommended starting point.  This book focuses on the entire Kingdom from history, architecture, culture, crafts, traditions, agriculture, industry and even fascinating photos of the Kingdom from satellite.  Saudi Arabia gives the reader an overall understanding of the myriad which is Saudi Arabia.

Among the outstanding photos are close up photographs of the kiswah, the hand embroidered velvet covering of the Kaaba.  The versatile book further includes appetizing photos of traditional Saudi foods along with the explanations of the food, ingredients and regions from which the dishes originate.  Examples of typical sports, traditional dances and social activities are illustrated in detailed photos.

A photo can tell many stories about a place and Desert Publisher’s ‘Saudi Arabia’ is like a book of never-ending stories showcasing the contrasts and contradictions of what makes Saudi Arabia.

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